A brief update: One interview video will be uploaded tomorrow evening. I believe the BBC News One-Minute World News provides well-balanced reporting of news, hence why I wanted to share it. Top stories on May

When you first meet Oluwagbeminiyi Osidipe, you encounter a very vibrant, friendly, and unique personality. Oluwagbeminiyi or Niyi – as she shortened her name for simplicity – was named by her mother, who had a “very personal experience” when she had her, Niyi explained.
Niyi is a Yoruba Nigerian transplant who arrived in the U.S. in 2006. As one of the most densely populated (West) African countries, Nigeria derives its name from the river that spans its land. To the South, it borders the Gulf of Guinea to the Atlantic Ocean. Originally colonized by the British, Nigeria gained independence in 1960. Its main ethnic groups are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba, who speak English and their own respective languages, while major religions include Islam, Christianity and indigenous beliefs.
Niyi shares her story, her views on politics, cultural differences she’s embraced with humor, and what we can learn from each other by expressing curiosity. Her message is simple: travel enriches us through its exposure to new cultures, and enables us to grow.

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” (American author Mark Twain, Innocents Abroad).

Have you had the opportunity to travel (extensively, within your country, or even once abroad)? Can you relate to Twain’s sentiments? How does travel enrich us?

Food has the wonderful quality of uniting us no matter where we are. There is nothing partisan or narrow-minded about food. It simply invites us to indulge, create recipes, and share with others. Two of my favorite Polish dishes (included in collage) are pierogies and barszcz czerwony – a beetroot soup – served on Christmas Eve in Poland.
How does food bring us together? What are some of your favorite dishes and why? Can food trigger memories?

DEFINING STEREOTYPES: “An idea or statement about all of the members of a group or all the instances of a situation.” (Merriam-Webster). Stereotypes enable bias and preconceived notions to perpetuate, but can also reveal valid

“The world changed immeasurably over the course of 2011. Across the Middle East, North Africa, and far beyond, citizens stood up to demand respect for human dignity, more promising economic opportunities, greater political liberties, and

Brief Crisis Breakdown Since the onset of the global financial crisis, or Great Recession, in 2007, the Eurozone has feared impending growing global debt levels, as well as sovereign debt within European countries themselves. In

Today marks the 23rd anniversary of Tiananmen Square pro-democracy protests in Beijing, China. Inflation, a lack of career prospects, the fall of Eastern European communism, and political corruption, are all said to have fueled anger

A cup of coffee can bridge cultural gaps. At least, that’s what Gizem Salgicil White, founder of Turkayfe.org, believes. Her organization aims to create awareness of Turkish culture, particularly within America. Gizem is a Turkish native,

As a part-time traveler, I enjoy traveling whenever I can. Whether it’s a short trip, exploring in my “own backyard” of New York City, or a more extended vacation abroad or within America, I want to share my favorite helpful travel resources with you. These are some of my personal favorite resources, companies I like, and (local) organizations I support, as well as apps and gear that I find interesting or particularly helpful!

Some of these links are partner links, and support this blog. Yes, that means that some of these are affiliates. The commissions that I earn when you make a purchase at one of these great websites help keep the servers running, my team going, and the posts flowing. By clicking on them, you support Culture With Travel. Enjoy!

-Nicolette

Language Services

PoliLingua. Interested in global language services, including translation, voice-overs or more? Be sure to check out these translation services!

All Things Booking

Personalized Itineraries through Fuzzy Compass. Headed on a trip and want 1:1 personalized advice? I offer consulting services, so whether you need to plan a 7-day vacation or just want to know how to spend an afternoon in NY, visit this link and get my help!

AirBnB. I’ve used Airbnb for domestic and international travel, and love the opportunity to rent a local’s room and really immerse myself in the culture. To me, it feels like “home away from home,” as your stay can give you access to a kitchen, an outdoor area, and other amenities depending on where you book! Get 20% off your first stay

Kayak and Momondo. Kayak is the number 1 price comparison service, and my favorite. I always start with Kayak for any travel booking. Momondo is my second favorite, and a great alternate to try.

Priceline. Priceline’s famous “Name Your Own Price” tool can get you some legendary deals, as long as you are not too picky about the details. It is especially great for rental cars at the airport. Visit Priceline to get rental cars, hotels and more.

Auto Europe. Though it’s primarily known for its car rentals in Europe, Auto Europe actually services more than 12,000 different locations worldwide. Sign up for a car rental using my link.

Loveholidays. At loveholidays they have revolutionized the way they offer you holidays. They provide four flexible payment options to choose from, in a bid to make holidays more affordable for everyone.

The Flight Deal Newsletter. If you sign up for the free Flight Deal newsletter, you’ll get notifications about travel sales, scoured from all different airlines. It’s great for spontaneous travel. (Airlines also usually have their own deal emails.)

NYC Tours

Local Expeditions. This NYC-based tour company provides you with a unique, local take on New York City. Local Expeditions also believes in the local/sustainable movement, and 5% of every expedition is donated to a local organization of the guide’s choice. Book a NYC tour via Local Expeditions.

NYC Tours & Photo Safaris. Looking for an experience beyond the guidebook? Have the lovely Jessie Festa and her team show you around different neighborhoods exploring their history and getting in touch with local places to be! Book a NYC tour via http://nyctoursandphotosafaris.com/.

International Tours

Visit.org. Travelers use visit.org to add half day to multi-day immersive experiences to their itinerary, and revenue from tours is then channeled back to the local community through the host organizations. By using this link, sign up for your next tour!

Tour Radar. What I like about Tour Radar’s tour offering is that they accommodate your travel style. You can select from cultural tours, adventurous ones, independent tours, and more to fit how you travel. Tour Radar frequently shares special deals all over the world, so it’s a great place to look before you book your next trip or to get travel inspiration. If you sign up using my link, you get 5% off your tour.

Project Expedition. Through Project Expedition, you can compare tours and adventure activities before you go, and though they offer popular attractions and famous excursions, they also offer access to local favorites. The Project Expedition team meets local tour guides before you go, to make sure it’s a truly unique experience. Visit Project Expedition for tours.

Travel Insurance

The Ultimate Travel Insurance Guide. A very informative guide about the different types of coverage one can expect on a typical travel insurance policy. This is a very handy resource from 1Cover on the importance of getting travel insurance while traveling abroad.

Compare Reviews for Travel Insurance

Anything can happen while you’re on vacation, so it’s important to be prepared before your bags are even packed. Check out these common travel insurance scenarios to see if you could benefit from travel insurance on your next trip.

Planning the perfect vacation is a task that takes months, and many people sink thousands of dollars into a trip. A sudden emergency, bad weather or lost luggage can turn a dream vacation into a nightmare. Travel insurance offers peace of mind when planning a vacation. It may cover cancellations, flight delays, property damage, lost luggage, health emergencies and much more.

Travel Apps and Products

Brode Electrolyte Vitamin. Brode is a lightweight, conveniently-packed electrolyte vitamin. The great thing is that it comes without any sweeteners, it’s easy to carry with you in any bag, and it keeps you hydrated during travel, while drinking or while playing sports. Use the referral link to get a discount at Brode: http://brode.refr.cc/HK6LVL5

Papilia Luxe. Papilia was designed to provide men and women with a seamless, personal travel experience for every occasion. This means that you create a profile with information about your personal style and travel preferences, enter destination information (what types of activities you’ll be exploring on the trip, whether it’s for business or leisure, where you’re headed), and you get personalized packing tips, cultural tips and personalized (clothes) shopping suggestions. Visit Papilia Luxeto set up your profile.

TravelTag. I’m a travel ambassador for this luggage tracking app for iOS and Android. I always check my luggage when traveling internationally, and TravelTag is great for monitoring your luggage. Visit TravelTag for more information.

GoingPlaces. GoingPlaces is a great app created by TravelRedBook.com, to create an inspiring place for travelers to share about their travels and discover new trip ideas. On a personal note: some of the content from CultureWithTravel.com has been featured on the app! Download the Going Places app via the iTunes app store.

VPN guide. There’s no such thing as total internet security (or anonymity), but using a quality VPN service is the first step you can take to protect your identity online. By taking the data you send online, including personal information like your IP address, and disguising, a VPN is able to help ensure that nobody spying from another computer can identify you. Travelers using public WIFI are a high risk for online spying, and this guide to finding a VPN service from Reviews.com can add an extra layer of online security.

Online (remote team) collaboration. In a world of freelancers, virtual teams, and cross-platform apps, there is a strong need for tools that allow online collaboration. Cloudwards.net has put together a list of the best virtual team software tools to keep your team connected, organized, and on track!

Medical & Health

Traveling with a Medical Condition. This excellent resource for InsuranceWith gives you the low-down on all the important tips and essential information for going abroad if you happen to have a medical condition. From visas and vaccinations, tips on carrying medication, to some of the most accommodating cities for disabled travelers – this resource is a must-have for people with medical and special needs who wish to see and explore the world.

Travel Communities, Organizations, and Festivals

Impact Travel Alliance (ITA) – formerly known as Travel+Social Good (TSG). The Impact Travel Alliance community is composed of dreamers and doers who recognize the potential tourism has to make a positive impact on the world, and are propelling the travel industry into a force for good. Visit the website and join their events!

Wanderful. Wanderful is a women’s travel network that connects adventurous, independent and globally-minded women travelers whether it’s through local chapters where women can attend meetups in different cities, a community website with blog posts from members, and tips and educational resources for women starting to travel or launching new blogs or websites. I’m a member of the New York Chapter, and have previously attended the Women in Travel Summit (an annual conference). Join a Wanderful local chapter for events and visit the Wanderful website!

Travel Massive. Travel Massive is a global community of travel industry professionals and travel insiders including bloggers and travel journalists. As a NYC member of the Travel Massive group, I’ve enjoyed meeting with local NYC travelers and tourism professionals alike at their monthly meetups. See if there’s a local chapter of Travel Massive you can join, or explore their Marketplace for work opportunities in travel!

New York Travel Festival. I discovered the New York Travel Fest in 2015, where I enjoyed attending, being a media partner for #CultureTrav, and providing advice through the Experts’ Corner. The NYTF provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with travelers, travel organizations, tourism boards and brands, while you’re attending workshops and fun sessions in different “tracks” (blogging/writing, entrepreneurial ones and more). In April 2016, I was excited to provide social media/digital storytelling tips as part of an expert panel at the NYTF. In April 2017, I moderated a panel about thought leadership in travel! Visit http://nytravfest.com/ to learn more and attend the festival!